Written questions, answers and statements

Harassment: Internet

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Question for Ministry of Justice

UIN 25115, tabled on 1 February 2016

Question

Ms Margaret Ritchie
Social Democratic & Labour Party
South Down
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend further the Criminal Justice Act 2015 in relation to online harassment and internet trolling.

Answer

Mike Penning
Conservative
Hemel Hempstead
Commons

Answered on

4 February 2016

Legislation that can be used to prosecute online harassment and related offences includes the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; the Malicious Communications Act 1988; and the Communications Act 2003. The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 made changes to the relevant offences in these last two Acts which aim to ensure that people who commit them are prosecuted and properly punished.

The Government believes that current legislation is sufficient and does not intend to introduce specific additional legislation to address online harassment and internet trolling.

Answered by

Ministry of Justice
Named day
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